I just got my new reloading set-up. Everyone always asks ( so did I just a few months ago) about the cost to reload and how long it takes to recover the cost of the equipment with your savings. Well, here are the numbers for me. Yours will vary with the price you pay for equipment, what you have been paying for factory ammo, and how much you shoot per year.

I shoot between 2000 and 2500 rounds per year +/-. I didn't feel that justified the expense and complications of a progressive loader. I decided to get the Lee Classic Turret Press kit from Cabelas. It should load at least 150/hour after I get more experience. I shoot 45ACP from a Glock 30 and will be shooting 230gr jacketed RN bullets. I have chosed Winchester WST for its cleanliness and Winchester primers because that is all that is available locally now. I will probably go with Wolf primers 5000 at a time later to save a bit more...about half a cent per round.

I have always said that you do not save cash when you start reloading. You just shoot a lot more without spending more money. I am reloading 45acp for about .135 per round which saves me slightly over 50% of factory ammo. These numbers vary depending on what's on sale, bullet prices, ect., but it is a good average number.(two years ago this number was .08 per round). I buy powder and primers in bluk which cuts down on the cost. My savings are even more on other calibers such as 38 Super, 44 special, 45 Colt, and 357 mag.

I changed handgun calibers from single stage to progressive several years ago, so all equipment costs have been recovered many rounds ago. My change to progressive was made to save wear and tear on these old arms, not just to increase my production rate. 4,000 lever pulls used to give me 1,000 rounds. Using the XL650 4,000 pulls gives me 4,000 rounds. To paraphrase the commerical -- cost per round .135 cents each, extending the age that I can still go to the range - priceless!

It has been suggested that one should try a few rounds with each recipe before loading up a big pile of ammo that may not work. Pulling a bullet or two isn't a big deal. Pulling a couple hundred takes the fun out of it - been there and done that

Plug in your prices. Remember - if you recycle your brass or use range brass, count brass cost as "zero." I call it Enron math, as it makes the numbers look better. Otherwise, don't forget to average brass life - I've reloaded some .38 Special cases 6 or 7 times. Not bad for a $20 box of ammo.